Page 32 of White Wedding
“Shit. Really?” Araceli looked as if she was about to barrage Victoria with more questions, but she was rendered speechless when they entered the great room.
The spacious room had open beam ceilings and burnished hardwood floors. The rugs underfoot looked like real Persian originals, not IKEA knockoffs. In one corner stood a ten-foot-tall Christmas tree, decorated with European-style glass ornaments—the kind that went for sixty bucks a pop. Along one wall, wide sliding glass doors led to a covered patio.
Victoria showed them to a cream-colored sectional that faced a natural stone fireplace. Rubbermaid bins were stacked on the floor.
“Have a seat,” she said. “I have some mulled wine simmering on the stove. Or there’s half a bottle of cabernet I opened at dinner.”
Araceli rubbed her hands together. “Mulled wine, please.”
“None for me.” He never drank if he was driving. Not anymore. “But I’ll have some water, thanks.”
As Victoria went to get the beverages, Araceli peeked into one of the bins. She brought out a white glass ornament. “Ooh. Shiny. These are going to be a bitch to write on.”
“You think you can handle it?” he asked. “If not, Victoria can put out a call on TaskRabbit or Fiverr.”
“Nena can do it. My sister’s done wedding invitations, place cards, you name it. I’m putting her on calligraphy detail. I want to do the gingerbread houses. I already checked with Luz, and she’s going to help.”
“Just don’t let her boys anywhere near those houses.”
“No kidding. She put together a cute gingerbread chalet last weekend but made the mistake of leaving it on the kitchen table. The boys gnawed all the candy off it.”
Victoria returned carrying a tray with two mugs of mulled wine and a glass of ice water. She set it on the coffee table. “Here you go.”
“Can we see the gingerbread houses?” Araceli asked. “I want to know if they’re the same ones they use onKids in the Kitchen. You know, that baking show on the Food Network? They had to do a gingerbread challenge this week. One of them made a church, and she melted Jolly Ranchers to create the stained-glass windows.”
Take it down a notch.Rafael wanted to muzzle his overenthusiastic cousin, but Victoria didn’t seem to mind. “Before I show you the kits, you have to see my pathetic attempt at making one. This is why I need your help.” She opened a smaller bin and revealed the contents. The broken pieces of gingerbread in no way resembled a house.
“Yikes,” Araceli said. “What happened?”
“It kept collapsing, so I gave up. And then I took out my frustrations with a kitchen mallet.” Victoria took a sip of wine. “Highly recommended for anger management.”
Rafael chuckled. Off-duty Victoria was a lot more fun than Blackwood Cellars Victoria. Not that he could relax his guard entirely. Since Victoria lived at home, her father could make an appearance at any time. Something told him the man wouldnotcondone the casual nature of their meeting. “Your dad’s not going to be upset we’re here, is he?”
“Sorry he was so rude to you on Monday,” Victoria said. “He’s out for the evening at his cigar club. And my mother just left for New York City. The only one here besides me is Shirley, our housekeeper.”
Rafael was grateful he didn’t have to deal with her father’s scrutiny. He didn’t need anyone making him feel inadequate just because he wasn’t a millionaire.
Victoria opened another bin and brought out a stylish silver box. “Here’s the kit for the gingerbread mansion. Missy wants this one made into a cardholder.”
“Nice. Coriander+Clove. I’ve always wanted to make one of their gingerbread houses, but the price was too high. You know?” Araceli glanced around the spacious great room. “Or maybe you don’t. But I’m gonna craft the shit out of this.”
“As long as I don’t have to,” Victoria said. “Inside the bin are the three other kits, plus all the instructions. Missy has very specific demands. I went ahead and bought some bags of candy—peppermints, candy canes, licorice bits, gumdrops, M&M’s—but get more if you need them. Rafael can add them to the bill.”
From the way Araceli was drooling over the upscale kit, Rafael suspected she would have put it together for free. But people as wealthy as Ben and Missy shouldn’t receive free labor.
Victoria reviewed all of the boxes, each of which contained a specific task and a set of notes. There was no doubt in Rafael’s mind that she enjoyed organization. Which he could relate to on a completely different level. When he cooked at the restaurant, he was border-line fanatical about his mise en place.
He was about to suggest they load the bins in his car when a male voice called out, “Hello. Anyone home?”
“In here.” When the visitor entered the great room, Victoria leapt up and greeted him with a warm hug.
Rafael fought back a surge of jealousy. Hadn’t she said she was single? Who was this guy?
But after she released the stranger and they stood side by side, their resemblance was unmistakable. Although the man was half a foot taller than her, he shared her dark hair, blue eyes, and high cheekbones.
“Connor, this is Rafael, from Tres Hermanos,” Victoria said. “And his cousin Araceli. They’re helping me with Ben and Missy’s wedding.”
“Nice to meet you,” Connor said. “I’m Connor Blackwood, Victoria’s older brother.”
